Ridwan Salamun

Sun TV

August 21, 2010, in Tual, Maluku Islands, Indonesia

Salamun, 28, a correspondent for Sun TV, was covering violent clashes between local villagers in the southeastern Tual area of the Maluku Islands when he was stabbed repeatedly, according to local news reports. Salamun was filming when he was attacked, and his equipment was reported missing in the aftermath, according to the local Antara news agency.

Salamun was airlifted to a hospital in the provincial capital, Ambon, where he died of his injuries, according to news reports citing the Indonesian Television Journalists Association.

Tensions had been running high between residents of two Tual villages--Banda Eli and Fiditan--with clashes resulting in property damage, according to The Jakarta Post. Violence had been sparked when a Fiditan motorcyclist was perceived as riding aggressively through the village of Banda Eli, according to The Jakarta Globe.